ONE ACT OF ATONEMENT CELEBRATED DAILY

Numbers 29:1-40 / Keywords 29:7

On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work.

 

29:1 “‘On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. 2 As an aroma pleasing to the Lord, offer a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 3 With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; with the ram, two-tenths[b]; 4 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.[c] 5 Include one male goat as a sin offering[d] to make atonement for you. 6 These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are food offerings presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma.

The Day of Atonement

7 “‘On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves[e] and do no work. 8 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 9 With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 10 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 11 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

The Festival of Tabernacles

12 “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days. 13 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 14 With each of the thirteen bulls offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; 15 and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth. 16 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

17 “‘On the second day offer twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 18 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 19 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

20 “‘On the third day offer eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 21 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 22 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

23 “‘On the fourth day offer ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 24 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 25 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

26 “‘On the fifth day offer nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 27 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 28 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

29 “‘On the sixth day offer eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 30 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 31 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

32 “‘On the seventh day offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 33 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 34 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

35 “‘On the eighth day hold a closing special assembly and do no regular work. 36 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 37 With the bull, the ram and the lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 38 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

39 “‘In addition to what you vow and your freewill offerings, offer these to the Lord at your appointed festivals: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings.’”

40 Moses told the Israelites all that the Lord commanded him.[f]

Footnotes

a. Numbers 29:3 That is, probably about 11 pounds or about 5 kilograms; also in verses 9 and 14

b. Numbers 29:3 That is, probably about 7 pounds or about 3.2 kilograms; also in verses 9 and 14

c. Numbers 29:4 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms; also in verses 10 and 15

d. Numbers 29:5 Or purification offering; also elsewhere in this chapter

e. Numbers 29:7 Or must fast

f. Numbers 29:40 In Hebrew texts this verse (29:40) is numbered 30:1.

1. God commanded three sacred assemblies to be held in the seventh month. The climax was the Festival of Tabernacles, which included offerings for seven days. Offerings were counted down from thirteen (a cursed number) to seven bulls (a perfect, complete number). A final, special assembly concluded the festival. It foreshadows our own salvation, being brought from death to life.

 

2. On the tenth day, they were to mark the Day of Atonement. It was the highlight of the month. That day was marked with a special command of self-denial. Out of many festival days, this one was a somber remembrance of their need for atonement, and who provided it. All celebrations flow from the reality that their sins were atoned for by God.

 

3. Note the repetition of the offering of the goat as a sin offering (28:15, 22, 30; 29:5, 11, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 38). The Day of Atonement was to be remembered at every festival through this sacrifice. In the same way, Jesus’ one act of atonement, dying on the cross for our sins, is to be remembered daily through repentance of sins and affirming forgiveness through Jesus’ sacrifice. We deny ourselves daily and follow him in light of this atonement.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for forgiving my sins through Jesus. Help me to remember and celebrate this blessing daily and regularly as Jesus’ disciple.

One Word Deny yourself and follow Jesus